Device for sunning the body



March 6, 1962 L. M. WHELESS DEVICE FOR SUNNING THE BODY Filed June 30, 1959 INVENTOR LEE M.WHELESS I ATTORNEY United States Patent ()1 3,023,753 DEVICE FOR SUNNING THE BODY Lee M. Wheless, 403-404 Security Bank Bldg,

. High Point, N.C.

Filed June 30, 1959, Ser. No. 823,946 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-372) This invention relates to the care of the human body including that necessary for maintaining the same in the best physical condition and to equipment used in treating the body to promote the comfort and health of the same and to maintain it as near physical perfection as possible.

The invention relates specifically to the subjecting of the body to the rays of the sun for the benefits obtained and to the equipment employed in reflecting and concentrating the rays of the sun upon the body in a harmless but beneficial manner to maintain the proper body tone.

Various devices have been produced for obtaining the beneficial results of the suns rays and transmitting the same to the human body; these have not been all that could be desired and in certain types of weather lacked effectiveness and made it seem impossible to obtain beneficial results unless the sun was high in the heavens and its rays not obstructed by clouds.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved collapsible device of simple and inexpensive construction from cardboard or the like Which can be disposed compactly in a package when not in use and can be readily unfolded and disposed in a position of use in a minium of time and with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible cardboard carton which can be readily set up for use in exposing the body to the rays of the sun and with means for intensifying such rays to obtain the maximum effect in a minimum of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which the human body can be held in relaxed prone position and with the device having a reflective metallized or aluminized inner surface to distribute or reflect the rays of the sun to various parts of the body to obtain quickly a uniform healthy tan, as well as a device capable of being used in cloudy as well as sunny weather.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aluminized treated standard size corrugated paperboard creased so that it can be folded centrally into a flat package and with side and end portions so that it can be formed into a box-like structure, with the inner bottom and side walls reflective so that a person may lie relaxed within the same and receive maximum benefit from the rays of the sun, as well as a device which is waterproof on its exterior.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention in use;

FIG. 2, a perspective of the blank from which the device is formed;

FIG. 3, a similar view of the device partly folded;

FIG. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5, a perspective of the device with a different type of end flap holding means.

Briefly stated, the invention is a rectangular sheet of corrugated paperboard with fold lines spaced inwardly of its sides and ends so that the sides and ends can be bent at substantially right angles to its central or base portion, and with the material provided with cuts forming extensions of the fold lines at each side to facilitate folding it at the ends. The outer surface of the cardboard is treated to make it waterproof and the inner side is provided with an aluminized or other reflective surface. Also a crease is provided across the center of the cardboard in order that the device may be folded flat to half its length and each pair of end flaps may be provided with means such as ties or interfitting parts for fastening them in definite relation with the sides adjusted at the desired angle for maximum warmth, tanning effect and other benefits from conditions existing at the time of the use of the device.

With continued reference to the drawing, the invention is a structure of corrugated paperboard 10 with a reflective inner surface 11 of any desired character such as aluminum and with a waterproof exterior surface 12. The sheet material of which the device is produced is cut in rectangular form and is provided with longitudinal fold lines 13 and transverse end and central fold lines 14 and 15, respectively, so that the rectangular sheet can be folded compactly for storage and shipment and for use into a substantially rectangular box having a bottom 16, a pair of sides 17 with end flaps 18 and end portions 19.

-In order to maintain the sides in upright position substantially or at a greater or an obtuse angle to the bottom of the device, ties 20 are provided attached through openings 21 in the end flaps 18 and when the ties are tied or fastened together to form a knot 22 such knot is adapted to be inserted through a slit 23 in the end portion 19 for holding the parts in intimate contact. 'If desired a perforated disk or washer 24 may be employed to provide the knot with an enlarged area to engage on the inside of the end portion 19.

The sides 17 are capable of being adjusted independently to provide the proper angles for the reflection of the rays of the sun which adjustment is desirable due to the position of the sun relative to the earth during different seasons or during diflerent times of the year, as well as according to the cloud conditions. Also by the adjustment of the angularity of the sides the intensity can be varied.

If desired the end portion 19 and extremities 18 of the sides may be secured in angularly adjusted relation by the provision of slits 25 in the end flaps and with the side flaps engaged over the end portions and with the ties 20 omitted although the ties afford a degree of flexibility in the angular adjustment of the sides.

'It will be apparent from the foregoing that a relatively simple and inexpensive sunning device is provided which can be readily used by all ages, in varying degrees of sunlight, in different seasons of the year and with the rays of the sun obstructed to various degrees, for obtaining the benefit of the rays of the sun for the human body and with different intensity settings to obtain a smooth, healthy suntan in the easiest manner and with a minimum of time and expense. Also it is a device which can be folded into a relatively flat package for easy storage in a minimum of space or for transportation and may be quickly set up for use.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

A collapsible device for concentrating the rays of the sun on the entire body, said device comprising a generally rectangular blank of corrugated sheet material provided with means for reflecting sun rays into the interior from all of the inner surfaces thereof and a weather-resistant outer surface, said blank being provided with score lines defining a base portion to support a sun 'bather and contiguous side and end portions, the top of the device re- 3 4 maining open to receive sun rays, each extremity of each References Cited in the file of this patent of said side portions terminating in a contiguous end flap, UNITED STATES PATENTS each of said end flaps being provided with a relatively small aperture and each end portion being provided with 408,204 BaQbbIt 6! 1889 a substantially centrally located slit extending inwardly 2,626,609 Fnedberg 1953 from the outer edge thereof, and a flexible tie member 2,649,092 Wallace 1953 secured to each end flap and extending through the aper- 2,675,807 Pursel P 1954 ture therein, the free extremity of each tie member being 7 receivable within the slit in the adjacent end portion FOREIGN PATENTS whereby each'side portion may be secured in angularly ad- 10 591,175 France Apr. 3, 1925 justed position toward a sun bather Within the device. 467, 1' Italy Nov. 24, 1951 

